Symbolism in The Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Lord of the Rings is among the greatest fiction works that readers around the world have been enjoying for decades. The first book of the trilogy – The Fellowship of the Ring – seems to contain many significant themes, motifs, and symbols. The below discussion will show that symbolism is instrumental in the plot and character development in Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring and serves as a reflection of human nature.

The Rings of Power stand for absolute, infinite power, along with the obligations and risks that come with it. The One Ring of Sauron bestows almost inconceivable power on its user, but in exchange, it places an enormous amount of strain on that person and eventually corrupts them (Obertino 232). The Three Elven Rings, however, are endowed with a particular kind of power that is directly related to growth and understanding. The Lady of Lórien, for example, is endowed with the ability to see into the future thanks to Galadriel’s ring, which she utilizes for goodness. Galadriel’s unshakable self-control, which she exhibits when she declines to take the One Ring from the protagonist, is the foundation of her capacity to utilize her ring wisely.

Then, there is a great example of symbolism that represents the character development of one of the crucial individuals in the novel. Aragorn’s distant descendant Elendil, who lost his life in combat at the Siege of Barad-dûr, the attack on Sauron’s fortress, formerly had the fabled Sword that was cracked. As Elendil passed away, this sword broke beneath him, and its fragmented fragments have been handed down the centuries as a memento of his once-famous but now-decaying country. The broken pieces of the sword are carried by Aragorn, Elendil’s faraway successor.

After Aragorn has the blade reforged in Rivendell and gives it the new name Andril, it becomes a representation of his grandeur and a signal that he is formally pursuing his title to the House of Isildur, which is his inheritance. The sword resembles Aragorn in certain ways. The sword, at first only a bunch of broken metal parts, is converted into a weapon of immense majesty and strength, just as when the reader first discovers Aragorn, he looks to be only a ragged, weathered Ranger. Later, however, it is shown that he is the successor of an old and magnificent heritage.

Galadriel asks Frodo and Sam to look into her mirror, which represents the utmost mystery of destiny and the ambivalence of knowledge as a present. When one looks in the mirror, they see things that have happened, are happening, or could happen – it is never clear which (Skogemann 44). Therefore, trying to avoid what is depicted in the mirror or changing one’s behavior to match the pictures is difficult. The events depicted in the mirror will occur or even already have. Hence, the causes or justifications for these fated occurrences are mostly unimportant and insignificant.

The insight that the mirror exposes is only significant in terms of what one finally acts with it – whether one utilizes it ethically or maliciously. Galadriel, although a powerful entity, has no influence over the things that are happening in the mirror. There are moments when fate truly possesses immense power, and no entity in Middle-earth has the ability to prevent it.

Moreover, symbolism seems to be inherent to the protagonist of the novel. Frodo is blessed with a disposition that is ideally adapted to thwart evil because he is the Ring-bearer and becomes the main character of The Lord of the Rings. He is courageous, giving, kind, knowledgeable, perceptive, and even consistently courteous. Frodo is interested in the outer world and educated about the customs of the Elves, which sets him apart from the typical run of parochial, self-satisfied Hobbits. As Bilbo, Gandalf, and Aragorn have all noted, Frodo possesses something unique that makes him stand out from the others of his race – possibly a refinement or a fortitude.

If Frodo was not so regularly plagued by uncertainty and presented with challenges he feels powerless to overcome, his kindness, knowledge, and, generally, the immaculate character may make him appear one-dimensional (Tolkien 35). Frodo has no supernatural abilities or even athletic strength. At first, Frodo is so frail that he can hardly leave his homeland without the assistance of Farmer Maggot and, later, Tom Bombadil.

The Hobbit, who is little and stealthy, is a deft parody of the conventional epic hero – Beowulf, for instance – whose fortitude and valor enable him to contend with creatures and vengeful gods. Frodo may be considered a highly Christian hero in this regard (Kocher 56). Christianity honors the virtue of humility by preaching that moral fortitude wins over physical might and that the way to redemption consists of self-sacrifice in the presence of a higher force. These concepts are best shown by Frodo’s handling of the Ring and his bravery, which mostly relies on defying the urge to utilize the Ring.

A road is another significant symbol of the novel. Frodo remembers how Bilbo usually used caution early in the voyage. Tolkien himself maintains the movement of his story by having his characters move, as suggested by the symbol of the road as a river that sweeps passengers before it (Petrie 414). Many of the classic epics that came before The Lord of the Rings contain this concept of the journey and the pursuit.

The hobbits are put to the test as they travel outside of the Shire’s comfort zone and into the unfamiliar. They are exposed to previously imagined perils like the Black Riders and the wrath of Caradhras, as well as the unfathomable grandeur of locations like Rivendell and Lothlórien. The road not only serves as a method of transportation but also functions as a story device in Tolkien’s world. It emphasizes how naught is static and how everything is always in motion – life, human being, and fate. Nobody is aware of what is expected of them in the future; the only way to figure this out is to take a step on this never-ending road.

Notably, the first Elves the hobbits encounter are traveling—they are Elves departing Middle-earth and going west to the coast. Like a road, time carries everything in its path into the distance. The connection between the two is best summed up in Legolas’s lamentation after leaving Lothlórien. For such is the manner of it: to discover and to forsake, as it appears to anyone whose ship is on the rushing stream.

To conclude, the above discussion was dedicated to the exploration of symbolism in The Fellowship of the Ring. It was found that in the book, symbolism plays a crucial role in the storyline and the growth of the characters and serves as a foundation for depicting human nature. Tolkien masterfully used numerous literary devices so that symbolism could be a key to revealing many disguised themes in the novel.

Works Cited

Kocher, Paul. Master of Middle-Earth: The Achievement of J.R.R. Tolkien. Pimlico, 2002.

Obertino, James. “Tolkien’s the Fellowship of the Ring.” The Explicator, vol. 54, no. 4, 1996, pp. 230–233.

Petrie, Dean. “From Hobbits to Hollywood: Essays on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings * The Lord of the Rings: Popular Culture in Global Context.” Screen, vol. 48, no. 3, 2007, pp. 411–415.

Skogemann, Pia. Where the Shadows Lie: A Jungian Interpretation of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Chiron Publications, 2009.

Tolkien, John. The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Book 1). Harper Collins UK, 2009.

Click Here To Order Now!

Symbolism in The Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien

Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?

We have qualified writers to help you.

We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.

You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)